NACC Care Cook of the Year winner announced

The Care Cook of the Year competition, which "continually challenges people who operate in the care sector to devise new and exciting recipes and to excel in their day-to-day catering environments" is organised by the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) and supported by The Worshipful Company of Cooks. It was set up to raise the profile of this sector of the catering industry and highlight the various talents and culinary skills of cooks working in the care sector. Participants were asked to create a two-course meal using a budget of £1.30 per head that is suitable for their service users group. This year's winner was named Craig Matthew Dewhurst from Rashwood on behalf of Elizabeth Finn Homes Limited. Dewhurst was praised for producing "a stylish dish of poached fillet of haddock, rosti potatoes wilted spinach (with) poached egg and marjoram butter. He completed the dish with a dark chocolate and espresso cream with orange tuille biscuit. NACC Chair Derek Johnson said: "The quality of entries in this year's competition was exceptional and reflects the rising standard of food in the Care Sector. "All the finalists showed what can be achieved on a budget and within 90 minutes, producing exceptional food not only suitable for the care sector but any catering operation. "The future of Care Catering will be safe in the hands of these finalists and their forward thinking employers."